With medals aplenty but sans shoes, this septuagenarian aims for the Olympics
Barefoot running star, 72-year-old S. Akilathirunayagi, has a dream – to take part in the venerated Olympic Games. This is a dream that she may not be able to achieve on her own, though over the years she has under her own steam shown her prowess on the track without any training. Akila from Mulliyawalai [...]
Bringing back GLF after four-year hiatus
Galle beckons again – at long last! To enjoy the sunny Dutch fort buzzing with all the world and his favourite book; to hop from an exciting culinary event to a poetry reading or a historical talk; or just stroll down the crowded cobblestoned streets and ramparts of a wilting dusk, friends in tow and [...]
A man on a mission tracking leopards on the Plains with his camera
A young man inspired by his father to spend time in the wilderness and enjoy the outdoors as it should be – camping under the stars, picks up a Nikon D90 back in 2010, and begins to record wild cats in the Yala and Kumana National Parks. Sankha Wanniatchi spends considerable time observing and photographing [...]
Letters to the Editor
Left clueless about what the IRD wants It was mid-November 2023 that a personalised letter from the Inland Revenue Department (IRD) arrived for me. A picture of a smiling man looking through his car window adorned the colourful government institution envelope; a welcome pleasantry from the IRD. For all this I do not fall within [...]
Appreciations
The burly figure who stood out like a beacon GAMINI WEERAKOON The curtain came down on Gamini Weerakoon, 82, one of the last of the great English language Editors of Sri Lanka in November 2023. Gamini Weerakoon’s passing ends a career of 57 years of superlative journalism. This burly figure, stood out like a beacon [...]
No place like Sri Lanka for Christmas
As we approach Christmas, my mind goes back to the days of Christmas past. Christmas in Sri Lanka is not just a religious festival when Christians are expected to go to church and celebrate the birthday of Jesus Christ. To most of us who live on this island – whether we are Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims, [...]
Capturing Jaffna’s uniqueness
The scope of this handsome coffee table book is vast. Jaffna Heritage, the latest in the series of books released by the National Trust of Sri Lanka in its drive to raise public awareness on the country’s heritage, seeks to explore the northern peninsula’s many distinctive features that have forged its unique identity. The compilers [...]
With a message on pollution, 2 new children’s books from Neluka & Maya
Two exciting stories for young children – Moona Finds Friends and Oshana and the Sili Sili Bag written by Neluka Silva and illustrated by Maya Weerapura were launched on December 15. The stories are intended to raise awareness about the impact of deforestation and pollution on animals, the message highlighted by the colourful and eye-catching [...]
Limited edition prints of Keyt’s ‘Kangodi Ragini’ snapped up
A select group of art lovers was invited to the George Keyt Foundation’s presentation of limited edition prints of ‘Kangodi Ragini’ painted in 1951 by the legendary artist on Thursday. The painting along with 20 other works was presented to the George Keyt Foundation by Keyt in 1990. Thirty ‘limited edition’ prints of this painting [...]
CAN Christmas market at Havelock City mall
A COVID-birthed initiative, the CAN Market , featuring a host of local homegrown brands is collaborat-ing with the newly opened Havelock City Mall to present a creative festive Christmas market. The CAN Market featuring some 70 + home grown brands is on from December 15-17 from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Expect beautiful gift ideas, [...]
A Silvery Christmas lights up Park Street Mews
One of Colombo’s favourite meeting places has turned all silver for Christmas. The Park Street Mews held its annual ‘Mews Light Up’ to usher in the festive season and the decor was a burst of sparkling lights and crystals on branches signifying the resilience of the human spirit in hard times, and the Christmas spirit [...]